Instep-arch support.



J. W. ARROWSMITH.

INSTEP ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 30, 1912,

Patented July 14, 1914.

' Inventor;

Attn

Will/777 22 JAMES W. ARROWSMITI-I, OF MORRISTOWN, NEW'JERSEY.

INSTEP-ARCH SUPPORT.

nioaaecl Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11%, ism.

Application filed January 30, 1912. Serial No. 674,397.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. ARROW- SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Morristown, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Instep-Arch Supports, of which the followin is a specification.

The invention re ates to supports for the arch of the human inste and its objects are among others to provi e a support of this character of simple, strong and durable construction and the desired resiliency, which may be easily and inex ensively made and which maybe adjusted rom time to time to suit the foot of the wearer; and to provide a support in two parts which may be quickly and easily dismembered for any of the purposes mentioned or for the purpose of renewing worn or broken parts or substituting different parts, as'well as for adjustment.

The im rovements consist in the construction, com i-nation and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 In the said drawings, Figure 1. is an underside view of an arch support embodying the improvements; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the upper plate of the support detached from the mam or lower plate; Flg. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modification.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the support shown in my application filed February 17, 1909, No. 478,461, but is not limited in its application to a support of that particular character.

It has been found that one of the most important functions of an instep support is to uphold and correct any deformity of the tarsal zone of the bony arch, as this zone is composed of numerous small bones including and receiving the astragalus which receives practically the entire weight of the body, for the reason that the bones of this zone are very often disarranged while the other portions of the arch are not seriously affected, and when the other portions of the arch are seriously affected are sometimes affected in such a way that a plate extending beneath the entire arch cannot be adjusted to correct the deformities of both. It has also been found desirable, when a plate is middle portion B is provided made in two or more parts, to be able to quickly and readily renew one or more of the parts when it becomes worn or broken, and this is also facilitated by the improvements.

The main plate A is of substantially spatulate form being narrower at its medial portion than at its ends and having its forward end extending beneath the forward portion of the metatarsals and its rearward end beneath the base of the calcaneum. The middle portion of this plate is arched to conform generally to the medial zone of the instep but is somewhat flattened, and upon it is superimposed the supplemental plate B which conforms generally to the middle zone of the arch and is curved on a shorter radius than the plate A. It will be seen that this construction provides a double curve, one of relatively small radius for the of the arch, and one of longer radius for the other portions of the arch. It will also be seen that the plate supporting the medial portion of the arch, when it is flattened under the weight of the wearer, will be reinforced by the main plate beneath it, so that the flattening will be very materially resisted and checked when the two plates are disposed parallel to each other. The method of securing these two plates together so that they will have a certain degree of independent motion, and at the same tant feature of the improvements. The plate A is provided with two elongated depres- 510118 A 1n its upper surface, and the plate B in its lower surface. pressions A are located near the inner edge of the plate A near its front and rear ends, and the projections B are located at the front and back ends of the plate B on the inside. The latter, however, are shorter than the former, and, when placed so that they lie within the former, will not extend to the front and rear ends. This provision permits the plate B to slide on the plate A when it is flattened, and also permits it to be bent or flattened for the purpose of adjusting it to the deformities of the foot. The projections B are also spaced a little farther apart than the depressions A so that when occasion requires it the plate B may be bent on a smaller radius and the projections still be retained in their proper position.

The cover C is secured to the main plate with two similar projections;

The elongated de- A by means of the rivets C located near the inner edge of the main plate and adjacent to the points of engagement of the two plates. This cover not only serves the usual purpose of a cover but assists in holding the plates in their proper positions with respect to one another. When the support is in use the pressure of the wearers foot will cause the detachable connection between the plates to hold and prevent the said plates from having any independent lateral movement.v

The depression A may be of any desired length, so as to perform the functions above mentioned, and also to permit upper plates of difierent sizes to be held thereby, and if it is desired to prevent the upper plate from having longitudinal movement.

The modification shown in Fig. 4.- has all the advantages of the construction shown in the other figures, except that of removability, and maybe used in most instances to as great advantage as the other form. In

this modified form the forward depression and projection of the main and upper plates respectively are dispensed with and the rivet D is passed through both plates and the cover to secure them together and to act as a pivot upon which the upper plate may be turned so as to clear the main plate.

What I claim as new is:

1. In an instep support, the combination of two plates one superposed upon the other, and a separable connect-ion between the two plates comprising a projection on-one plate occupying a small portion of the area thereof and a depression in the other plate'also occupying a small portion of the area thereof and receiving said projection, the construction and arrangement being such that tension on. the plates tending to move the same laterally will be resisted by contact between the walls of the depression and the projection, and one of said connection members must move vertically to permit lateral relative movement of the plates.

2. In an instep support, the combination of two plates one superposed upon the other, and a separable connection between the two plates comprising a projection on one plate occupying a small portion of the area thereof and a depression in the other plate also occupying a small portion of the area thereof and receiving said projection, the construction and arrangement being such that tension on the plates tending ito move the same laterally will be resisted by contact between the walls of the depression and the projection, and one of said connection members must move in a non-lateral direction to permit lateral relative move ment of the plates.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of two plates superposed one u on another, a cover extending beyond the p ates laterally and secured to the under incense plate so that the upper plate is held between the cover and t e under plate, and a separable connection between the said upper and lower plates comprising a projection on one plate and a depression in the other receiving said projection and normally limiting its movement and the relative movement of the plates, said projection having an inclined side, so arranged that when pressure plate so that the upper plate is held between the cover and the under plate, and a separable connection between the said upper and lower plates comprising aprojection on one plate and a depression in the other receiving said projection and normally limiting its movement and the relative movement of the plates, said depression having an inclined side, so arranged that when pressure or tension in one lane is exerted the projection will act on 51c principle of the wedge or inclined plane to pass out of the depression and thus permit the movement of the plates with respect to each other.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of two plates superposed one upon another, a cover extending beyond the plates laterally and secured to the under plate so that the upper'plate is-held between the cover and the under plate, and a separable connection between the said upper and lower plates comprising a projection on one plate and a depression in the other re- "ing its movement and the relative movement of the plates, said projection and said depression having cooperating upwardly and outwardly inclined sides, whereby when pressure or tension in one plane is exerted the projection .will act on the principle of the wedge or inclined plane to pass out of the depression and thus permit the movement of the plates with respect to each other.

' 6. Ina device of the character described, the combination of two plates superposed one upon the other, a connection between the said plates adapted to hold the same against separation of the connection by normal strains in all directions whilethe device is in use, but permitting separation of the said plates by pressure or tension alone in a plane at an angle to the plane of the pressure of use when the device is not in use, said plates having substantially smooth surfaces adjacent to said connection adapted to lie in contact with each other and said connection comprising a depression in one plate surroundedby a relatively smooth surface and a projection in the other plate surrounded by a similar surface, the projection adapted to lie in said depression when the said surfaces are in contact.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of two plates superposed one upon the other, a connection between the in contact with each other 7 and said connection comprising a depression in one plate surrounded by a relatively smooth surface and' a projection in the other plate surrounded by a similar surface, the projection adapted to lie in said depression when the said surfaces are in contact, and a cover of flexible material. secured to one of the said plates," extending-over both plates 1 and normally confining one of the plates between itself and the plate to which it. is see cured. 4

8. An instep'support which comprises two plates, one superposed on the other, a co'nnection between the said'plates which permits one of them to be swung aroundthereon to a position in which the greater art of its area is outside the other," without eing disconnected therefrom, and a second'connection between the said plates adapted to hold them in fixed relative positions against nor mal strains and constructed'and arranged to I be assisted in this action by the pressure of use but permitting the separation of the plates when notunder pressure by stress in a direction different from that of the stress of use,

9. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of two plates superposed one upon another, a cover extendin beyond the plates laterally and secured to t e under plate so that the upper plate is held between the cover and the under plate, and .a separable connection between the said upperand lower plates comprising a projection on one plateand a depression in the other rev ceiving said projection and normally limit ing its movement and the relative movement of the plates, one of the members of the connection havingan inclined side so arranged that when pressure or tension in one plane is exerted it will act on the principle of the wedge or inclined plane to pass out of the depression and thus permit the movement of the plates with respect to each other.

l0. In an. instep support, the combination of two plates one superposed upon the other, a separable connection between the 'two plates comprisin a projection on one plate occupying a smafi portion of the area there of and a depression in the other plate also occupying a, small portion of the area thereofand receiving said projection, the construction and arrangement beingsuchvthat tension on the plates tending'to move the same laterally will be resisted by contact between the walls of the" depression and the rejection, and one of said connection mem' Eers must move vertically to permit lateral relative movement of the plates, and another connection between the said 'plates which permits the said plates to rotate in a horizontal' plane thereof;

11. In a device of the character described,

the combination of two plates superposed one upon another, a separable connection between the two plates comprising an interruption in the surface of one; of the plates forming a recess occupying a small portion of'its area, an extension on the other plate received by said recess, the wallsof said extension and recess being oblique to the horizontal, and another connection removed from the connection thus formed permitting the said lates to oscillate thereon in a horizontal p ane, the connection first described being so constructed and arranged that oneof its members must be moved in a plane at an" angle to the horizontal before the said connection members can be separated and before the .said plates can be rotated horizontally. 7 Witness my hand this 22nd day of J anuary, 1912, at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York. 7

v JAMES W. ARROWSMITH. Witnesses:

ALAN G. MoDoNNnnL, -E. W. Sommn, Jr. 

